Syria: Marie Colvin's death reflects the vicious situation in Homs

Journalists have reported from the city occasionally throughout the uprising, both with and without visas, the latter being smuggled across borders with the help of activists. BBC and Sky News crews were there to record the start of the latest attack, along with a handful of other western journalists, who all described what was happening as extraordinarily vicious.

Reporters were told to stay in basements of houses, along with most of the citizens: venturing out into the street would only draw the sniper fire that was supplementary to the mortars and tank shells pouring in.

Houses were reduced to rubble by direct hits. Rifle fire ricocheted around the streets. Smoke rose above entire city, visible for miles around.

A Spanish team from El Pais described later how they had spent two half-hour periods outside the entire week they were there. It was simply too dangerous to stay out longer, by day or night.

For a while it seemed the entire route into Baba Amr was blocked, the main secret entrance being found and destroyed by the authorities. This was one reason why The Daily Telegraph, when it reported from near the city last week, ended up in the nearby town of Qusayr, also under government attack, having been diverted.

However, last week, another route opened up, allowing more journalists, including Colvin, to enter Baba Amr, with terrible results for them and their families but at least the world's awareness of what is happening to men, women and children on a daily basis.

"Feeling helpless," Colvin wrote on her post. "Will keep trying to get out the information."